Jack
15-11-06, 12:48 PM
Ever wondered where the opel logo came from? Apparently the lightning bolt evolved from an Airship* design:
http://www.cartype.com/images/thumbs/2/Opel_1937-1947.jpg
1937 to 1947. The familiar circle logo began in 1935 as the Nazi's came to power, with a stylised dirigible airship displayed inside the "O" representing the german engineering expertise.
Also interesting to note that GM bought Opel in 1929 - so during the second world war, whilst mass producing arms for Hitler's war machine, Opel sent shareholder profits back to GM in America!
As for Vauxhall's griffin:
The griffin emblem, which is still in use, is derived from the coat of arms of Fulk le Breant, a mercenary soldier who was granted the Manor of Luton for services to King John in the thirteenth century. By marriage, he also gained the rights to an area near London, south of the Thames. The house he built, Fulk's Hall, became known in time as Vauxhall.
More on Opel (http://www.cartype.com/page.cfm?id=251&alph=ALL&dec=ALL) and Vauxhall (http://www.cartype.com/page.cfm?id=231&alph=ALL&dec=ALL)
Yes, I'm bored.
[edit]Thinking about it, the "Airship" looks suspiciously like something Ann Summers would sell... No wonder Hitler lost the war if his tanks were built by a company who thought dildos made good logos
http://www.cartype.com/images/thumbs/2/Opel_1937-1947.jpg
1937 to 1947. The familiar circle logo began in 1935 as the Nazi's came to power, with a stylised dirigible airship displayed inside the "O" representing the german engineering expertise.
Also interesting to note that GM bought Opel in 1929 - so during the second world war, whilst mass producing arms for Hitler's war machine, Opel sent shareholder profits back to GM in America!
As for Vauxhall's griffin:
The griffin emblem, which is still in use, is derived from the coat of arms of Fulk le Breant, a mercenary soldier who was granted the Manor of Luton for services to King John in the thirteenth century. By marriage, he also gained the rights to an area near London, south of the Thames. The house he built, Fulk's Hall, became known in time as Vauxhall.
More on Opel (http://www.cartype.com/page.cfm?id=251&alph=ALL&dec=ALL) and Vauxhall (http://www.cartype.com/page.cfm?id=231&alph=ALL&dec=ALL)
Yes, I'm bored.
[edit]Thinking about it, the "Airship" looks suspiciously like something Ann Summers would sell... No wonder Hitler lost the war if his tanks were built by a company who thought dildos made good logos